Which ones don't make it? I just want more to laugh at in two years.
- Two_For_Truth

Sadly, I'm a bit hesitant to put Marc Staal there. If he can get his old game back then maybe. A lot can happen in 2 years. In 2008, Phaneuf was a sure thing for the Vancouver team.

Which ones don't make it? I just want more to laugh at in two years.
- Two_For_Truth

Marc Staal will be the reason you lose the bet. It's an easy bet to make on my end....what is the likely hood that three brothers make it ...when there are so many other choices for Canada to choose from.

Marc Staal will be the reason you lose the bet. It's an easy bet to make on my end....what is the likely hood that three brothers make it ...when there are so many other choices for Canada to choose from.
- iLive4theLeafs

I think you're right dude---I'm a huge Marc Staal fan, I just don't see him in the mix in 2 years time.

Sadly, I'm a bit hesitant to put Marc Staal there. If he can get his old game back then maybe. A lot can happen in 2 years. In 2008, Phaneuf was a sure thing for the Vancouver team.
- mykokes

Marc Staal can and will be there in 2014. It's a larger ice surface and they need all the defensive help they can get. All three Staal brothers bring the prototypical size, strength, hockey IQ and natural chemistry that Canadian teams always assemble. Remember Team Canada keeping the Heatley, Thornton and Marleau line intact because of their chemistry? The Staal brothers have natural, almost innate, chemistry.

With Pronger and Niedermayer long gone, Canada is going to need defensive help and that's what Staal brings year in and year out. He has two full years to recover from his concussion issues as well as become better than he already is. Considering defenders take longer to hit their stride anyway, 2014 is the perfect time for Marc Staal.

I think you're right dude---I'm a huge Marc Staal fan, I just don't see him in the mix in 2 years time.
- mykokes

If healthy, all three will be there.

Man, you guys are completely forgetting about Jared Staal.

Man, you guys are completely forgetting about Jared Staal.
- Feeling Glucky?

I would imagine Jordan centering one of the bottom lines, and Bergeron could be chosen over him, especially seeing as he was on the last gold medal team.

Man, you guys are completely forgetting about Jared Staal.
- Feeling Glucky?

I just realize this said JAred, but do you think it's a definite that Jordan makes it?

I just realize this said JAred, but do you think it's a definite that Jordan makes it?
- celata29

If you ask Unholy_Goalie....it's already a done deal He'll bet his mom's basement on it!

I just realize this said JAred, but do you think it's a definite that Jordan makes it?
- celata29

I believe only Eric will make the team, but this poop is like two years away, a lot of hockey to play until Sochi, injuries, and good and bad seasons until then could have a huge part to play yet....

I would imagine Jordan centering one of the bottom lines, and Bergeron could be chosen over him, especially seeing as he was on the last gold medal team.
- celata29

Team Canada has a tendency to take more than four centers and put them on the wings until they need them at center. For example, Eric Staal has been used as a winger for Team Canada. And yes, while Bergeron was taken last time, and likely will be taken again, what are the odds Iginla, Morrow, Carter, Thornton, Marleau and Heatley are chosen in two years? There are spots available and the Staals fit the Team Canada mold almost perfectly.

Man, you guys are completely forgetting about Jared Staal.
- Feeling Glucky?

Runt of the litter.

Team Canada has a tendency to take more than four centers and put them on the wings until they need them at center. For example, Eric Staal has been used as a winger for Team Canada. And yes, while Bergeron was taken last time, and likely will be taken again, what are the odds Thornton, Marleau and Heatley are chosen in two years? There are spots available and the Staals fit the Team Canada mold almost perfectly.
- Two_For_Truth

Those extra spits will be filled by guys like Stamkos, Giroux, potentially Tavares, Seguin. Not jordan staal. He just doesn't fit in the top 15 forwards, even as a role player.

Healthy, in scoring roles, you have Crosby, giroux, Stamkos, getzlaf, Perry, tavares, James Neal, jeff Carter, Toews, maybe eberle, brad Richards. Eric staal will have a tough time cracking that, as well as beating out other possible like Marleau, thornton, who are in a similar situation. What five do you boot for him? Its about five of them. Maybe more.

For defensive roles (and there are at least three guys there above that can play defensively too), you still have Seguin, mike Richards, bergeron, Sharp. For just a few spots, jordan has to beat out most of those guys, along with maybe toews, Carter, who get pushed down from scoring roles, and re strong defensively.

Try make a lineup without 7 or 8 of those guys that jordan staal make it ahead of. I don't think you can.

Stamkos Crosby tavares
Perry giroux getzlaf
Carter toews tavares

Those are possible scoring lines. Eric has to beat out one of them, plus maybe eberle, brad Richards, and a few others. He's no lock, that's for sure.

Jordan would have to bet the guys I mentioned above. Who from there? I doubt any at all. Along with 6 or 8 others you could pop in. I don't think Jordan stands a shot even.

Those extra spits will be filled by guys like Stamkos, Giroux, potentially Tavares, Seguin. Not jordan staal. He just doesn't fit in the top 15 forwards, even as a role player.
- prock

Team Canada hates two-way players with size.

Team Canada hates two-way players with size.
- Two_For_Truth

Team Canada has twenty of them. Maybe thirty.

And there are what, three primarily defensive spots? At most?

Team Canada has twenty of them. Maybe thirty.

And there are what, three primarily defensive spots? At most?
- prock

Maybe hundreds.

Maybe hundreds.
- Two_For_Truth

Technically, hundreds of thousands.

You get the point though. He would only be up for one of the fourth line spots, and when you see who is getting pushed off the top nine scoring positions, he's competing for those spots with guys that are out of his league. Do you really take him over mike Richards, bergeron, maybe even a guy like toews? Hell, eric staal could even be pushed down to competing for one of them. Marleau, and Carter have both played key defensive roles on teams in their career too. Plus have forty goal seasons. Sharp?

Just put together a lineup with them on it, and start to list the guys you've left off for them. Its not that they're bad. There is just so much to choose from. Enough that even eric staal might be fringe.

Technically, hundreds of thousands.

You get the point though. He would only be up for one of the fourth line spots, and when you see who is getting pushed off the top nine scoring positions, he's competing for those spots with guys that are out of his league. Do you really take him over mike Richards, bergeron, maybe even a guy like toews? Hell, eric staal could even be pushed down to competing for one of them. Marleau, and Carter have both played key defensive roles on teams in their career too. Plus have forty goal seasons. Sharp?

Just put together a lineup with them on it, and start to list the guys you've left off for them. Its not that they're bad. There is just so much to choose from. Enough that even eric staal might be fringe.
- prock

Millions.

Stamkos Crosby tavares
Perry giroux getzlaf
Carter toews tavares

Those are possible scoring lines. Eric has to beat out one of them, plus maybe eberle, brad Richards, and a few others. He's no lock, that's for sure.

Jordan would have to bet the guys I mentioned above. Who from there? I doubt any at all. Along with 6 or 8 others you could pop in. I don't think Jordan stands a shot even.
- prock

Ah yes, the Tavares brothers. Yeah, no room for the Staals if the Tavares brothers are there.

Ah yes, the Tavares brothers. Yeah, no room for the Staals if the Tavares brothers are there.
- Two_For_Truth

Instead of trying smartass remarks (and failing), why don’t you just throw together a lineup with both Eric and Jordan on it, then take a look at the list of guys you’ve left off in their favour?

Replace one of the Tavares brothers with Brad Richards, Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, if that makes you happy. There’s a long list there.

Instead of trying smartass remarks (and failing), why don’t you just throw together a lineup with both Eric and Jordan on it, then take a look at the list of guys you’ve left off in their favour?

Replace one of the Tavares brothers with Brad Richards, Patrick Marleau, Patrick Sharp, if that makes you happy. There’s a long list there.
- prock

You're keeping Jordan Staal, easily one of the best defensive forwards in the game today (and most likely even better in two years), off the team in favor of guys who will be in their mid 30s in 2014 or who didn't even make it in 2010. Seriously, hilarious.

As of today, when healthy, the forwards would be Stamkos, Crosby, Giroux, Neal, Toews, Tavares, Nash, Getzlaf, Perry, J. Staal, Bergeron, E. Staal and M. Richards.

Morrow, Iginla, Marleau, Thornton and Heatley will all be too old in 2014. As will players that didn't make it in 2010 like Doan, Lecavalier, St. Louis, Spezza, B. Richards and Sharp. Carter didn't make it in 2010 and won't be there in 2014 either.

Honorable mention to Eberle, Seguin, E. Kane, Couture and Benn but odds are, given their age, they are better candidates for 2018. However place an asterisks on M. Richards, Getzlaf and Nash who may be replaced by one of the younger players listed above if they continue to play below their usually high level.

The more likely scenerio that UG will never admit to will be that ONE of the Staals make it...either Eric or Jordan. Keep trying to convince rational thinking hockey fans that Team Canada will really be called Team Staal in two years though UG. Team Canada's choices will be so slim in two years that it's a lock that they'll have to give the 3rd brother a spot too...heck maybe even Jared will be ready by then.

I mean since your being so bold in your predictions UG...why not throw Jared in as the 4th Staal to be guaranteed a spot. It wouldn't be any more ridiculous then your first claim.

Runt of the litter.
- Two_For_Truth

more like best of the bunch.... just a bit slow in developing.

The more likely scenerio that UG will never admit to will be that ONE of the Staals make it...either Eric or Jordan. Keep trying to convince rational thinking hockey fans that Team Canada will really be called Team Staal in two years though UG. Team Canada's choices will be so slim in two years that it's a lock that they'll have to give the 3rd brother a spot too...heck maybe even Jared will be ready by then.

I mean since your being so bold in your predictions UG...why not throw Jared in as the 4th Staal to be guaranteed a spot. It wouldn't be any more ridiculous then your first claim.
- iLive4theLeafs

Is that UG?

I’ve never said no Staals will make it. I’ve said even Eric is not a lock. I don’t think he is. I’d say he’s 50/50. It’s not like he’s an elite scoring forward these days. If he continues being a 70 point forward, like he has for the past few years, there are quite a few forwards that slot in ahead of him, and some very close to him. As far as Jordan Staal goes, I’d say it’s a lead pipe cinch that Mike Richards and Patrice Bergeron are ahead of him in a defensive role. Seguin is a strong two way player, and put up an enormous amount of points too. In two years, I’d say it’s not only possible, but LIKELY he’s taken over Jordan Staal. He’ll be 22. And he’s claiming that’s too young? I don’t think so.

If I had to guess, I’d say Eric Staal is 50/50. Marc Staal is maybe a little less, 30%? Again, just too many top dmen to choose from. After guys like Weber, Letang, Doughty, who I’d say are likely locks, then guys that I think are very likely, like Keith, Seabrook, you’re down to just a few spots, that guys like Marc Staal, Brent Burns, Pietrangelo (who is starting to look like he WILL be there), Boyle…… He’s in tough too.

Is that UG?


- prock

His style is easy to pick up on. He's managed to drop the icons and a little of the condescending attitude but most of it is still there.

I'd say it can only be guaranteed that one Staal will make Team Canada.

Betting that two Staal's will make it is a 50/50 proposition. I could see two Staal's going but it's not a lock by any means.

Saying 3 brothers will make is just as absurd as saying the whole hockey playing Staal family will be on Team Canada. Yet UG is so sure of this he will bet a house he doesn't own on it happening.